Red Devils 2016-2017

[Gallego99]

mai lah mai lah...monaco like to ship us duds...look at Falcao & Marshal.
stick Fosu up there and blood him. He has the potential as the Keane type of DM.

Falcao suffered a career threatening injury(CL) so serious that none of the top clubs would want to risk buying him at any price. United has a superb medical and rehab setup and my guess is at the end of the 'trial', they probably felt that the injury could recur and that the risk outweighs any benefits in the long run. United didn't trigger the option to buy him until Chelsea came along.

Martial's problem could be off field and I suspect once these issues get sorted out, he will be an even better player.

They haven't found a replacement for Carrick and with Schneiderlin gone and Basti to follow, they need cover.

Lindelof has the ability to pass deep in his own half and that would be a tremendous asset to possess especially if the middle 4 is hemmed in by the opponents. The Liverpool game exposed that weakness in United. None of the back 4 could distribute and bypass the middle the way Lindelof can.

Fosu needs to step up and he'll be well suited for the DM position rather than the right back. He has not shown the same hunger as he did in his debut.

The long and short of it all is Mou is looking for players with the set of skills and qualities that will compliment the strategy options open to him. He's every bit a thinker unlike many of his peers.

 

[Gallego99]

Not much of a Griezmann fan but we'll need to look beyond Rooney and Zlatan. The Swede is truly phenomenal!!!

 

[yinyang]

Manchester United announces record quarterly revenues

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-38904511

Manchester United says it remains on track for record revenues for the current financial year, after making record quarterly revenues.
The Premier League's new TV deal meant broadcast revenues were up 40.8% in the last three months of 2016, while match day income rose 27%.
Total revenues were £157.9m, up 18% from £133.8m a year ago. The club now expects revenues of £540m this year.
The Red Devils currently lie sixth in the Premier League.

"The robustness of our business model continues to be reflected in our strong quarterly financial results and we remain on track to deliver record revenues for the year," said Ed Woodward, executive vice chairman.

While broadcast and match day revenues were strongly ahead, commercial revenue was largely unchanged at £66.8m. They had enjoyed a strong boost this time last year with the commencement of the Adidas kit deal.

The club also said that in the quarter three major sponsorship deals were signed, new partnerships with Deezer and Mlily, and the renewal of one with Concha Y Toro.

Operating profit for Q2 was up 15% at £37.6m, and net operating profit was up 23% at £69m.

---

Bastian Schweinsteiger's status as a Manchester United player can be shown by his position as an "exceptional item" on the club's balance sheet.
The 32-year-old was back in today, albeit at a reduced £4.8m, but it is not expected he will still be at Old Trafford when the summer transfer window closes.
Of major interest in today's investors conference call was executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward's admission that the huge growth in United's commercial revenues will be hard to maintain.

Instead, it seems attention is turning to increasing media revenues.
The MUTV app Woodward announced today will not be available in the United Kingdom but it is expected to be available in China, India and Indonesia.
At a cost of between £1.99 and £4.99, it is not going to be a "game changer" but it does represent the first steps in what will become a major advance into the digital word for United, at that is where their next drive for increased revenues will come from.

---

Coy on tour plans

However, the weakening of the UK pound across the US dollar over the year meant that United's net debt as of 31 December 2016 was £409.3m, an increase of £87.2m over the year.
"The gross US dollar debt principal remains unchanged," said a club statement.
"The increase in net debt is due to the strengthening dollar, with the USD/GBP exchange rate moving from 1.4747 on 31 December 2015, to 1.2293 on 31 December 2016, resulting in an £88m increase in gross debt."

Meanwhile, one quirk of the latest financial results has been an exceptional credit of £4.8m being applied to the accounts during the quarter, after German international Bastien Schweinsteiger was "now considered to be re-established as a member of the first team playing squad".
The Old Trafford club had taken a financial charge of £6.7m in September after the player was considered surplus to squad requirements.
In addition, in a conference call the club said it was to launch an app for its in-house TV station, MUTV, in more than 160 countries.
But it would not confirm widely-reported stories that it plans to tour the US this summer, except to say that the tour would be "larger than last year" - a rain-hit trip to China.

Price freeze
United are in the final of the EFL Cup on 26 February. In addition, later this month the club faces Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup fifth round and Saint Etienne in the Europa League round of 32.

The club also remains in contention for a Champions League place finish, being two points behind fourth placed Arsenal.
The results come a day after Manchester United and its official timekeeper partner, TAG Heuer, unveiled a pair of club special-edition watches. The first of the watches, the F1, is on sale for £1,300.

Earlier this week the club, majority-owned by the American Glazer family, also announced it was freezing season ticket prices for the 2017-18 season, the sixth season in a row it has kept prices on hold.

It also announced price reductions for young season ticket holders.

 

[yinyang]

Packed fixtures over the next fortnight, with next league game on 4/3

February 2017


[TABLE="class: table-stats, width: 624"]
[TR]
[TH="class: statistics, align: left"][/TH]
[TH="class: match-competition, align: left"]Competition[/TH]
[TH="class: match-details, align: left"]Fixture[/TH]
[TH="class: match-date, align: left"]Date[/TH]
[TH="class: kickoff, align: left"]Kick-off[/TH]
[TH="class: status, align: left"]Status[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR="class: preview, bgcolor: #F5F5F5"]
[TD="class: statistics show"][/TD]
[TD="class: match-competition, align: left"]Europa League - Round of 32[/TD]
[TD="class: match-details teams"]

Manchester United​

v

Saint-Étienne​

[/TD]
[TD="class: match-date"]Thu 16 Feb[/TD]
[TD="class: kickoff"]20:05[/TD]
[TD="class: status"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: preview, bgcolor: #F5F5F5"]
[TD="class: statistics show"][/TD]
[TD="class: match-competition, align: left"]FA Cup - Fifth Round[/TD]
[TD="class: match-details teams"]

Blackburn Rovers​

v

Manchester United​

[/TD]
[TD="class: match-date"]Sun 19 Feb[/TD]
[TD="class: kickoff"]16:15[/TD]
[TD="class: status"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: preview, bgcolor: #F5F5F5"]
[TD="class: statistics show"][/TD]
[TD="class: match-competition, align: left"]Europa League - Round of 32[/TD]
[TD="class: match-details teams"]

Saint-Étienne​

v

Manchester United​

[/TD]
[TD="class: match-date"]Wed 22 Feb[/TD]
[TD="class: kickoff"]17:00[/TD]
[TD="class: status"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: preview, bgcolor: #F5F5F5"]
[TD="class: statistics show"][/TD]
[TD="class: match-competition, align: left"]Premier League[/TD]
[TD="class: match-details teams"]

Manchester City​

P-P

Manchester United​

Postponed[/TD]
[TD="class: match-date"]Sun 26 Feb[/TD]
[TD="class: time"][/TD]
[TD="class: status"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: preview, bgcolor: #F5F5F5"]
[TD="class: statistics show"][/TD]
[TD="class: match-competition, align: left"]EFL Cup - Final[/TD]
[TD="class: match-details teams"]

Manchester United​

v

Southampton​

[/TD]
[TD="class: match-date"]Sun 26 Feb[/TD]
[TD="class: kickoff"]16:30[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

[yinyang]

Table's close, until tonight. Cannot rely on Spurs last night :p

[TABLE="class: table-stats, width: 336"]
[TR="class: header, bgcolor: #1C1C1C"]
[TH="class: position, align: left"]Position[/TH]
[TH="class: team-name, align: left"]Team[/TH]
[TH="class: played, align: center"]Played

​

[/TH]
[TH="class: goal-difference, align: center"]Goaloal
Difference

​

[/TH]
[TH="class: points, align: center"]Points
[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 5"]

View full table​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 5"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: team first, bgcolor: #F5F5F5"]
[TD="class: position"]No movement 1[/TD]
[TD="class: team-name"]Chelsea[/TD]
[TD="class: played, align: center"]24[/TD]
[TD="class: goal-difference, align: center"]34[/TD]
[TD="class: points, align: center"]59[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: team, bgcolor: #F5F5F5"]
[TD="class: position"]No movement 2[/TD]
[TD="class: team-name"]Tottenham[/TD]
[TD="class: played, align: center"]25[/TD]
[TD="class: goal-difference, align: center"]28[/TD]
[TD="class: points, align: center"]50[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: team, bgcolor: #F5F5F5"]
[TD="class: position"]Moving up 3[/TD]
[TD="class: team-name"]Arsenal[/TD]
[TD="class: played, align: center"]25[/TD]
[TD="class: goal-difference, align: center"]26[/TD]
[TD="class: points, align: center"]50[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: team, bgcolor: #F5F5F5"]
[TD="class: position"]Moving up 4[/TD]
[TD="class: team-name"]Liverpool[/TD]
[TD="class: played, align: center"]25[/TD]
[TD="class: goal-difference, align: center"]24[/TD]
[TD="class: points, align: center"]49[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: team divider, bgcolor: #F5F5F5"]
[TD="class: position"]Moving down 5[/TD]
[TD="class: team-name"]Man City[/TD]
[TD="class: played, align: center"]24[/TD]
[TD="class: goal-difference, align: center"]20[/TD]
[TD="class: points, align: center"]49[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: team divider current-team, bgcolor: #F5F5F5"]
[TD="class: position, bgcolor: #DCDCDC"]No movement 6[/TD]
[TD="class: team-name, bgcolor: #DCDCDC"]Man Utd[/TD]
[TD="class: played, bgcolor: #DCDCDC, align: center"]25[/TD]
[TD="class: goal-difference, bgcolor: #DCDCDC, align: center"]17[/TD]
[TD="class: points, bgcolor: #DCDCDC, align: center"]48[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

[yinyang]

2000 games anniversary with all time greats

 

[red amoeba]

Table's close, until tonight. Cannot rely on Spurs last night :p

[TABLE="class: table-stats, width: 336"]
[TR="class: header, bgcolor: #1C1C1C"]
[TH="class: position, align: left"]Position[/TH]
[TH="class: team-name, align: left"]Team[/TH]
[TH="class: played, align: center"]Played

​

[/TH]
[TH="class: goal-difference, align: center"]Goaloal
Difference

​

[/TH]
[TH="class: points, align: center"]Points
[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 5"]

View full table​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 5"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: team first, bgcolor: #F5F5F5"]
[TD="class: position"]No movement 1[/TD]
[TD="class: team-name"]Chelsea[/TD]
[TD="class: played, align: center"]24[/TD]
[TD="class: goal-difference, align: center"]34[/TD]
[TD="class: points, align: center"]59[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: team, bgcolor: #F5F5F5"]
[TD="class: position"]No movement 2[/TD]
[TD="class: team-name"]Tottenham[/TD]
[TD="class: played, align: center"]25[/TD]
[TD="class: goal-difference, align: center"]28[/TD]
[TD="class: points, align: center"]50[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: team, bgcolor: #F5F5F5"]
[TD="class: position"]Moving up 3[/TD]
[TD="class: team-name"]Arsenal[/TD]
[TD="class: played, align: center"]25[/TD]
[TD="class: goal-difference, align: center"]26[/TD]
[TD="class: points, align: center"]50[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: team, bgcolor: #F5F5F5"]
[TD="class: position"]Moving up 4[/TD]
[TD="class: team-name"]Liverpool[/TD]
[TD="class: played, align: center"]25[/TD]
[TD="class: goal-difference, align: center"]24[/TD]
[TD="class: points, align: center"]49[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: team divider, bgcolor: #F5F5F5"]
[TD="class: position"]Moving down 5[/TD]
[TD="class: team-name"]Man City[/TD]
[TD="class: played, align: center"]24[/TD]
[TD="class: goal-difference, align: center"]20[/TD]
[TD="class: points, align: center"]49[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: team divider current-team, bgcolor: #F5F5F5"]
[TD="class: position, bgcolor: #DCDCDC"]No movement 6[/TD]
[TD="class: team-name, bgcolor: #DCDCDC"]Man Utd[/TD]
[TD="class: played, bgcolor: #DCDCDC, align: center"]25[/TD]
[TD="class: goal-difference, bgcolor: #DCDCDC, align: center"]17[/TD]
[TD="class: points, bgcolor: #DCDCDC, align: center"]48[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

The only thing we can do is to continue winning n gain points. We still have to face those abv us save poo. If we can gain points from these encounters, we should make top 4.

Impressive first 10 minutes of devastating attack from poo to put spurs away. Obviously they have missed Mane.

 

[Gallego99]

Table's close, until tonight. Cannot rely on Spurs last night :p........

Pool's victory was not such a bad result for us. A draw would have been better though. The key here is not to let a sizeable gap develop between second and third. Now there are three spots available for CL qualification. Let's hope Man U doesn't fark up till the end of the season!

 

[Gallego99]

The only thing we can do is to continue winning n gain points. We still have to face those abv us save poo. If we can gain points from these encounters, we should make top 4.

Impressive first 10 minutes of devastating attack from poo to put spurs away. Obviously they have missed Mane.

Given the pace and threat of Mane, I thought Poch would have instructed the back 4 to sit deep and counter. Pool was desperate to break the win less streak and the pressure was on. Thot it was a tactical blunder by Poch.

 

[yinyang]

Preview of tonight's home europa tie.

Manchester United will be without Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick
for Thursday's first leg of their Europa League last-32 tie with Saint-Etienne.

Boss Jose Mourinho said captain Rooney and midfielder Carrick have "little muscular problems" and will be rested.
"Wayne and Carrick, I don't want to say 'injuries' because I don't think we are speaking about injuries," he added.
Defender Phil Jones is out after sustaining a foot injury in the 0-0 draw with Hull City on 1 February.

• Man Utd face fixture trouble - Mourinho

Shaw overlooked
Shaw made 13 appearances for United from August to November this season, but only one sinceLuke Shaw has received another setback, with Mourinho confirming the left-back will be left out of his squad for the fourth consecutive match.

The 21-year-old has returned from a double leg fracture he sustained last season, but has made just one appearance since November.

"He's not playing tomorrow, because my team is playing well and I am happy with my back four - Antonio Valencia, Eric Bailly, Chris Smalling and Daley Blind," Mourinho said.

Fellow defender Marcos Rojo is also available for selection.

'We've got nothing to lose'
Saint-Etienne will entertain United in the second leg on 22 MarchSaint-Etienne captain Loic Perrin says his side have nothing to lose at Old Trafford.

"Initially we said 'damn, that's not the best draw'. But we're playing in Europe to take part in exactly this type of match," he said.

"They're a top European club who, not so long ago, were winning the Champions League."

Perrin and his team-mates are used to facing Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who scored 14 goals against them during his spell at Paris St-Germain.

"He's the type of player you dream about facing. It's always amazing for us defenders to test ourselves against such world-class players," added Perrin.

"That's what we all want, always, but at Manchester he's not the only player of that calibre."

http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/38962487

 

[red amoeba]

I hope Mourniho realise that the only way to UCL is via the europa, he better aim to win it.
its not given they will make top 4 as the teams above are quite formidable.

i think it might be wiser to aim to win the Europa and go into UCL rather than finishing 4th. Then, go along and win both FA & Mickey Mouse cup. A treble in his maiden season w Man U, not bad.

 

[Gallego99]

Cup competitions always brings with it that element of luck. If referee decisions are anything to go by, I think we should give equal emphasis on all the remaining competitions from hereon. Methinks winning the mickey mouse cup will help take the pressure off the players and manager. Confidence and self belief will see them to the finish line.

My only worry is Ibra is scoring the bulk of the goals so far. The rest have to step up or we'll never make it to the top 4 or win Europa for that matter.

 

[yinyang]

Manchester United 'agree deal' to sign Victor Lindelof this summer
- despite hijack attempt from Roma

Lindelof was strongly linked with a switch to Old Trafford in January but the move did not materialise and he remained in Lisbon

[FONT=&amp]Manchester United have reportedly agreed a deal to sign Benfica defender Victor Lindelof this summer - despite an attempt by Roma to hijack the deal.
[/FONT]
[FONT=&amp]Lindelof was strongly linked with a switch to Old Trafford in January but the move did not materialise and he remained in Lisbon.
[/FONT]
[FONT=&amp]But, according to Tuttomercatoweb, United have sealed a pre-contract agreement with the Swede and he is set to arrive at the Theatre of Dreams ahead of the new season.[/FONT]
[FONT=&amp]Roma have targeted Lindelof as a potential replacement for Kostas Manolas who is set to leave the Serie A side at the end of the season.
[/FONT]
[FONT=&amp]Lindelof, 22, is rated as one of Europe's best young stoppers and helped Benfica to a 1-0 win over Borussia Dortmund in their first-leg Champions League last-16 tie in midweek.
[/FONT]
[FONT=&amp]Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona have also been linked with swoops for the centre-half, with Barca sending scouts to see Benfica's 3-0 win over Nacional last week.
[/FONT]
[FONT=&amp]But Jose Mourinho looks set to trump United's transfer rivals and land his man.

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/...ews/manchester-united-agree-deal-sign-9842826[/FONT]

 

[yinyang]

Manchester United revive transfer interest
in Real Madrid's Toni Kroos

Doubt has grown over a prospective deal for Antoine Griezmann, however, with the Atletico Madrid forward yet give his final 'OK'

• Miguel Delaney Chief Football Writer
• @MiguelDelaney
• Monday 20 February 2017 07:04 GMT
  
  Manchester United have revived their interest in Toni Kroos, and will seek to test Real Madrid’s willingness to keep the German star in the summer. United felt they had a deal for the World Cup winner back in 2013-14, with former Old Trafford boss David Moyes recently revealing he had agreed terms with the German, only for Kroos to join Real Madrid.
  
  They are now willing to try and sign the 27-year-old again in the summer, although those close to the Bernabeu hierarchy say they would not sanction a sale.
  
  The uncertain future of Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann could yet influence proceedings. Jose Mourinho has insisted on a typically forensic plan to improve the United team in the summer, targeting key positions, but it is now part of United’s general policy for some signings to be “stars” due to their commercial value.As recently as late January, Griezmann had been seen as almost certain to meet that status in the summer, with United having agreed personal terms with the French star’s representatives.
  
  Doubt has grown since then, however, as the Euro 2016 top scorer wants to see whether United finish in the Champions League place this season and is also said, by sources close to the player, to wish to see the extent of Real Madrid’s interest.
  
  Griezmann will also face pressure to stay at Atletico Madrid for one more season, as they move to a new stadium. He has not yet given his final “OK” to any United deal and Old Trafford sources now say with increasing regularity it is “not done”.
  
  United will pursue interest in Kroos regardless of what happens, but Griezmann looking to Real could actually help their case, as any purchase from Atletico may cause a reshuffle in the European champions’ squad. The German midfielder would also be seen as a “marquee star” close to Griezmann’s status if the attacker was not signed.
  
  Those close to the Real hierarchy, however, insist that Kroos is considered almost 'un-sellable'. United, nevertheless, will test how true that is. There is at the same time a new boldness about the Old Trafford club’s approach to transfers, especially after beating Real to the world-record purchase of Paul Pogba from Juventus.
• 
  http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/...s-antoine-griezmann-real-madrid-a7588031.html

 

[Gallego99]

The players are showing signs of fatigue but let's hope the fringe players step up to maintain the winning run till the end of the season.

 

[yinyang]

Truth be told, Saints were the better team with fighting spirit. Anervesdeservesis i they came undone by 1st disallowed goal. shows our frailty at defence (and midfield minus the Armenian).

Zlatan is most deserving of his arrogance

 

[red amoeba]

Truth be told, Saints were the better team with fighting spirit. Anervesdeservesis i they came undone by 1st disallowed goal. shows our frailty at defence (and midfield minus the Armenian).

Zlatan is most deserving of his arrogance

typical case of play badly still win...the ball is round, so sometimes, offsides not seen, onsides not given.
but Man U playing as if their legs encased in cement, buay zao, buay pass, buay zai.

Southampton full of running, full of speed. Bailly and Smalling had a bad day, cannot cope with Gabbadani, who incidentally is a fringe player in Serie A.

Luckily Mourniho didn't bring on Rooney who will slow the game even more.

At this rate, fatigue is the biggest enemy.

Anyway, a win is a win....maybe, giving up the FA cup will help.

 

[Gallego99]

The Saints should have won. The disallowed goal was a bit tricky. Gabbiadini was obscured by Smalling's frame from the lineman view. When the pass was made, it was easy to pick out the player who was clearly running in an offside position ie. until Gabbiadini stepped out of the defender's shadow and scored. it's always a chicken and egg question. Did the player running in an offside position interfered and the straight answer to that is absolutely YES. the linesman can only make a call from what he see and he raised the flag promptly. Referees rely heavily on their assistance and rightly so.

United fell victim to a similar call some years ago under Ferguson. Puel was right to call for the introduction of technology. They should start with the finals first as the competing clubs have spent hours to get to that stage. Now that the EFL is done and dusted, Mou is going to have a very tough 2-3 weeks. Judging from the performance of players, I dun think the first 11 will have the legs. The fringe players will be crucial to United's ambition.

 

[Gallego99]

I'm just surprised that some of the pundits and sports writer jumped to the defence of the Saints and claimed that the goal should have been allowed. Clearly, everyone wants a fairy tale ending. If you look at the officials viewpoint, they can only make decisions on what they see and once the flag is raised, only the referee is the final arbiter of that decision. He can over rule the linesman if he was in a better position to make that call. It happened in a split second and there was only one idiot who was clearly in an offside position and that was Gabbiadini's team mate.

 

[yinyang]

BBC's resident pundit Phil McNulty and his insightful MU piece on a new beginning (?), Zlatan (shades of Eric C)

EFL Cup final: Does Manchester United win make season a success?

By Phil McNulty
Chief football writer

Manchester United beat Southampton 3-2 to lift the EFL Cup at Wembley.

Jose Mourinho was back doing what he does best at Wembley on Sunday - lifting silverware, as Manchester United beat Southampton in the EFL Cup final.

Mourinho claimed the season's first major trophy and ensured success just months after his appointment despite a largely disappointing United performance which was rescued by two-goal inspiration Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

The 35-year-old Swede and Mourinho - instrumental in bringing him to Old Trafford after the pair forged a bond at Inter Milan - are now the two central figures leading United forward.

Can Mourinho and Ibrahimovic make Man Utd great again?

Can Ibrahimovic inspire cup treble?Mourinho was brought into Old Trafford as the manager who is as close to a guarantee of success and trophies as it gets after a silverware-lined career at Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real Madrid.

Old Trafford's joyless existence under Louis van Gaal demanded change and Mourinho was the identikit of the sort of manager required at the 'Theatre of Dreams' - a personality who would relish its history and surroundings rather than shrink from it.

Mourinho was also available and had a third Premier League triumph on his CV only 12 months earlier at Chelsea. It meant United were prepared to set to one side his track record for short-term stays in exchange for a quick fix.

United were thoroughly unconvincing at Wembley, but Mourinho and his teams invariably find a way to win trophies. And so it proved as Ibrahimovic headed home an 87th-minute winner.

Mourinho's move to bring the Swede in on a free transfer from Paris St-Germain was strategic and wise. He is a personality of equal stature and confidence, had a point to prove having never played in England and could provide the sort of charisma that had echoes of the great Eric Cantona.

How United needed Ibrahimovic on Sunday because for long periods they were desperately average, outplayed by Southampton and had their hand held by Lady Luck throughout. If United are to build on this first trophy of the Mourinho era, Ibrahimovic's continued presence is essential because the EFL Cup final win is only the first building block in an edifice that requires considerable renovation after the dismal post-Sir Alex Ferguson years of David Moyes and Van Gaal.
Mourinho, however, is safe hands when it comes to winning trophies and United remain in serious contention for two more in the Europa League and FA Cup. This is a good start, but the success-hungry Portuguese will want more.

United's lean years simply could not continue with Pep Guardiola arriving at Manchester City, Jurgen Klopp settling at Liverpool and Antonio Conte conducting a brilliant transformation of Mourinho's former charges Chelsea. Mourinho won the Premier League twice, as well as the FA Cup and two League Cups, in his first spell at Chelsea. He won 124 games out of 185 in that period, a win ratio of 67%.

He won 80 out of 136 (59%) in his second stint at Stamford Bridge - winning the title again and the League Cup - while he has won 28 of 43 at United at an impressive 65%. The statistics add up to exactly what is required at Old Trafford.

He will chase the Champions League prize either through the Premier League or the Europa League because this is vital to his future plans.
In the meantime, Ibrahimovic once again proved himself indispensable. He was the difference here. He made the decisive contribution to clinch a game United did not deserve to win.

He is head and shoulders - quite literally - above every other player at United. He has scored 26 goals this season, with Juan Mata next with nine. He has had 143 shots compared to Paul Pogba's 117, and 65 shots on target compared to Pogba's 39. Ibrahimovic tops every significant attacking table.

United are a long way from their former greatness - but this EFL Cup final proved conclusively that if they are going to get anywhere near that status again, Ibrahimovic is the man who is integral to Mourinho's plans, even at 35.

Does EFL Cup win make season a success for Man Utd?

United winning a Wembley final equates to tangible success - but successful seasons are measured in different currency in the modern era and Mourinho will need more than this to achieve full satisfaction.

Van Gaal, who led United to FA Cup success in May, was on his way out almost as soon as he placed the trophy on the same table Mourinho sat at on Sunday.
If winning the FA Cup was not enough to satisfy United's desires for success under Van Gaal then it would take a re-drawing of the boundaries to now paint the EFL Cup as fulfilling their ambitions.

There is a key difference in mood here - whereas Van Gaal's Wembley win felt like the end of a story, this victory, for all its good fortune, had the sense of new start. Mourinho must now make this season feel like the full package of progress by leading United back into the Champions League, which is surely the minimum requirement after the world record transfer expenditure of £89m on Pogba and the Ibrahimovic coup.
And United still have an excellent chance of ensuring this season can be viewed as a success as they stand among the favourites for the Europa League, which offers a Champions League place to its winners.

Mourinho has already painted the last-16 meeting with Russians FC Rostov as a tough tie but he also has the chance to reach the top four in the Premier League, with United only two points behind Arsenal.

United have a potentially hazardous FA Cup quarter-final tie at Premier League leaders Chelsea to negotiate, but this is a season still moving on three fronts after securing that first major trophy.

The new reality is, though, that while the EFL Cup provides a trophy and satisfaction, United's season will only be a success if they conclude it back in Europe's elite competition.

What now for Wayne Rooney?

Wayne Rooney's agent went to China last week to talk about a possible moveWayne Rooney lifted the EFL Cup and demonstrated he is the consummate team player with his wild celebration of Ibrahimovic's winner - but this was still a player on the outside looking in.

The 31-year-old, who this week confirmed he was staying at United despite speculation linking him with a move to China, was denied a piece of the action by the match-winning contribution of the elder statesman who has usurped him as the team's spiritual leader.

Rooney was stripped and ready for action. With the words of Mourinho ringing in his ears and assistant manager Rui Faria showing him the diagrams United hoped would lead to a defining contribution, Ibrahimovic struck. The United and England captain was sent back to the bench with no chance to add to his 250 goals for the club as Marouane Fellaini was called in for a late lockdown. It was a symbolic moment.

United's captain for the day, Chris Smalling, let the club's all-time record goalscorer Rooney lift the trophy and it is to his credit that there was no sense of personal denial or disappointment that he was left out then denied even the smallest part. Rooney was delighted for his team-mates, which is a mark of his approach.

Despite this, there was no escaping the belief the guard has changed at Old Trafford. Rooney is no longer the main man - he is now well down the ranks and this was simply another piece of evidence of his declining influence and the credits rolling on a magnificent career at United.

Why the long face, Jose?

Jose Mourinho won three League Cups as Chelsea managerMourinho's downbeat demeanour was a talking point throughout the EFL Cup final as he cut an unsmiling, subdued figure who barely showed any emotion even when United scored.

He insisted afterwards he was delighted: "I am very happy. It is important for the fans, for the club and for the players. I always try to put myself in the secondary position but the reality is it is also important for me."

United's performance was not designed to lighten Mourinho's mood until the moment of victory and it is likely his behaviour was shaped by concerns about how Southampton dominated his side for long periods and troubled his defence - normally his tactical strong point - throughout.

Victory will, however, lighten his mood, bolster his already high standing with United's fans and release any personal pressure he may have been feeling.